Corn harvester gatherer construction



Feb, 7, H950 N. F. ANDREWS ET AL CORN HARVESTER GATHERER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 25, 1941 INVENTORS NORMAN F. ANDREWS RUSSELL L. DORT ATTORNEYS 7, 1 95C N. F. ANDREWS ET AL CORN HARVESTER GATHERER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS NORMAN F. ANDREWS v. RUSSELL L. DORT ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1950 CORN HARVESTER GATHERER CONSTRUCTION Norman F. Andrews, Moline; Ill., and Russell L.. Dort, Davenport, Iowa, assignors to Deere & Company,.Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application May 23, 1941, Serial No. 394,806. Divided and this application March 10,1944, Serial No. 525,885

1 12. Claims; The present invention relatesgenerally to corn harvesters and has for its. principal. object. the provision. of a corn harvester that is considerably li hter in weight and less expensive to manufacture; but is rugged,v strong and durable. More specifically, it; is' an object of this invention to provide.- a gathere-r. fabricatedentirely of. sheet metal construction, withoutthe use of relatively heavy structuralbeams, but. without sacrifice in strength orJrigidity.

These and: other objects and. advantages of thepresent invention will; be apparent. to those skilled in. the art. after a consideration. of the following description; in which reference. is bad to. the drawings appended. hereto; in which Figure 1 is. a plan view of. a two-row tractor mounted corn harvesting implement; embody-- ingthe principles of? thepresent invention, thehood of the" left-hand gatherer unit. being re.-

moved to show the. gathering; and conveying comprises a narrow longitudinally extending. body 5 supported on a pair of. closely spaced dirigible-front wheels: 6 and a pair.- of: comparatively widely spaced rear traction. wheels. 1-, the. latter being. fixed to a pair of laterally extend.- ing axles 8; which are journaled in the usual axle housing 9 forming an integralpart of. the, tractor body.

The corn harvestin implement attachment includesa pairof pickingor snappingunitsv l disposed; on opposite. sides of thetractor body 5. ad.- iacent the. forward; end. thereof-L Each picking unit l0v comprises. a. pair of cooperative snappin rolls l-l, l2- mounted. on shafts 13. which, are supported on the frame at. their. lower ends in conventional bearings, L fitted" between the tapered. point [6 of. each roll. and the, cylindrical body thereof inthe. usual manner. The up;- per ends of? the shafts l3 are; journaledin. suit-- able bearings. mounted. on. the frame. of the. implement, which includes a pair-of aligned. transverse hollow beam of rectangular cross section 1.9,. as. described. and. claimed. in U.. S. Patent 2;34Fl.,87.l1, of which this, application is; a. division. The two picker: units; l0; are; mounted on. a com-- 2.- mon transverse supporting beam 20, on. which. the two transverse beams I9 are suitably sup ported.

With the exception. of. the? main supporting beam" and the. individual transverse frame members IQ of the two opposite picker units Ill, the frame structure of each of the picker units is. constructed almost entirely of sheet metalsec.- ticns to reduce the weight and to save expense.v Each. of the outer gatherers'lfi includes a for wardly and downwardly inclined. lower sheethaving a downwardly turned outer edge; flange 2.1-, the sheet. 26- being supported. adjacent its rear end on the transverse beam l9. Rigidly at-- tached beneath the; sheet 26 and extending forwardly from thecross beam I 9 is a: trough shaped sheet .metal reenforcing member 2-8;. which is: relatively deepat its rear end and ta.- pers to a shallow section. near the. forward: end ofthe sheet 26, thusproviding; a beam of tubu lar or box' section ior'supporting the. outer snapping roll. The trough; member 28 is provided With outwardly extending flanges 28'; fixed, as by welding, to the; bottom of the lower plate 2.6. This is appreciably lighter, yet stronger than-- conventional structural frame members. The inner longitudinal. edge of the-sheet 25 is provided with an upwardly and inwardly directedflange 25, which extends alongside the outer snapping roll H and curves about the axis of. the latter, defining; a conveyor trough 30 for receiving the ears of. corn separated, from the stalks by the snapping rolls- H and 12. The opposite side of. the conveyor trough is: defined by a generally vertically disposed longitudinally extending sheet metalwall -whichrises upwardlyand outwardly and is curvedover thetop, as at- 36,.to servev as a guide. forthe' cornstalksz.

The conveyor.- comprising an endless chain 31: and. spaced paddles 38. attached thereto, is trained arounda sprocket. 39 which; isfixed to a shaft. 40 journaled at: its; lower end. in; a bear-- ing 4| in thesheet. 26. adjacent the: forward. end of the latter. The inner flight of the chain 31: moves the paddles; 38' upwardly and. rearwardly in the conveyor. trough. 3.0. adjacent. the. snapping rolls H and thus moves theears; of; corn away fromv the snapping rolls toward. the rear: of the implement. At its upper. end, the conveyor chain 31 passes around a pair of: sprockets 42', 43 mounted onshaftstd l, 45, respectively, which are supported in the sheet 26- in suitable journal. bearings. The outer flight of the con.- veyor chain; 3'! passes. forwardlyalongg the outer edge of the sheet; 26' to the sprocket 39; at theforward end. The forward end 3! of the sheet 26 is curved to conform approximately with the path of the outer end of the paddles 38 and is provided with a sheet metal bracing wall 48, which is curved in conformity with the rounded front end of the sheet 26 and rises substantially perpendicular thereto and serves the purpose of catching any ears of corn that tend to fall forwardly in the path of the conveyor paddles 38 before they are engaged by one of the paddles. The wall 48 also serves as a part of the sheet metal frame of the gatherer. The lower portion of the wall 48 is turned inwardly at 48' in the plane of the sheet 26, the inner edge of the portion 48 being formed with a depending fiange 21 fixed by weldin or the like to the flange 21.

Spaced above the sheet 26 is a second sheet 50, disposed in a substantially parallel plane with the plane of the sheet 26, overlapping the forward end of the latter and extending forwardly therefrom. The sheet 50 is fixedly attached to the upper edge of the wall 48 and also is fixed to the side wall 35 of the gatherer. It is provided with a depending integral peripheral flange 49. A transversely extending sheet metal brace extends between the top of the sheet 50 and the under side of the curved portion 36 of the gatherer. A channel-shaped sheet metal brace 52 is connected between the upper and lower sheets 50, 26 at the rounded rear end of the upper sheet 50. To this brace 52, is also connected the forward end of the side wall 35 of the conveyor trough.

The shaft 40 on which is fixed the sprocket 39 at the forward end of the elevator chain 31, extends generally perpendicular to the lower sheet 26 upwardly therefrom, through an aligned aperture in the upper sheet 50, and is supported in a bearing 53 fixed to the upper sheet 50. The shaft 40 is extended above the bearing 53 and supports at its upper end a sprocket 54, around which is trained a gatherer chain 55 having outwardly projecting lugs 56 for engag-' ing the stalks of corn to gather the latter into the snapping rolls H. The gatherer chain 55 extends forwardly along the outer edge of the sheet 50 from the sprocket 54, and passes around a lower sprocket 51, which is mounted on a shaft 58 journaled in a lower bearing 59 fixed at the forward end of the sheet 50, and in an upper bearing on an arm 60, mounted at its rear end in the center of the sheet 50 and extending forwardly therefrom above the sprocket 51 at the forward end of the sheet 5|]. The chain 55 extends rearwardly alongside the row of corn being harvested and over a guide sprocket 6| journaled on a stub shaft 62 mounted on the upper sheet 50. A second gatherer chain 64 is trained around a sprocket 65, which is fixed to the shaft 40 intermediate of the sheets 26, 50 and around a forward sprocket 66, which is journaled in a bearing 61 mounted beneath the upper sheet 50.

The forward end of the arm 60 is also provided with a transversely extending frame member 68, to which is pivotally connected 2. supporting arm 69, to which is attached a floating gatherer point 10, which swings about the pivot point of the arm 69 on the frame member 68. A brace rod 1| extends rearwardly and outwardly from the frame member 68 and is fixed to the forward end of the lower sheet 26.

The inner gatherer comprises a pair of side walls extending alongside the tractor on op-' posite sides thereof and converging forwardly of the tractor and interconnected by a rounded hood 16 extending around the front end of the tractor. A floating gatherer point 11 is sup ported on the forward ends of the converging walls 15 in any suitable manner, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. The inner side walls 15 are connected with the walls 35 on the opposite gatherer by means of a tubular sheet metal bracing member 18 extending over the ear conveyor and over the upper end of the snapping rolls H, 12 on each side of the tractor.

A pair of inner gatherer chains are trained around a pair of fore and aft spaced pulleys 86, 81 supported on the inner gatherer walls 15. Also supported on the inner gatherer walls 15 in fore and aft spaced journals are a pair of longitudinally extendin rollers 88 at each side of the front wheels 6 of the tractor and are adapted to engage the latter if the wheels are turned too sharply in either direction, thus preventing damage to either the tires or the chains 85.

The upwardly extending flange 29 along the inner side of the lower sheet 26 is extended upwardly and inwardly across the upper ends of the snapping rolls ll, I2, as indicated at 29' and serves to cover the upper snapping roll bearings. The inner rear corner of the sheet 26 is curved downwardly and inwardly behind the inclined flange extension 29', as indicated at 95. This causes the ears of corn which are moved upwardly and rearwardly by the paddles 38, to slide inwardly toward the tractor body and away from the paddles at the upper end of the conveyor, as the ears drop onto the huskingrolls 96, 91. At the same time that the ears slide inwardly, the paddles turn outwardly as the chain 31 moves around the sprocket 43, and by virtue of the second sprocket 42 disposed directly outwardly from the sprocket 43, the chain moves substantially at right angles away from the conveyor trough. This has been found to provide a better and more efficient disengagement of the paddles from the ears than a conveyor in which the chain turns approximately 180 degrees around the upper sprocket 43.

During operation, the tractor moves forwardly between a pair of adjacent rows of corn, each row being gathered between the center gatherer point 11 and one of the outer points 10. The stalks of corn are urged by the gatherer chains between the tapered points I 6 of the snapping rolls ll, 12, which rotate in opposite directions to draw the cornstalks downwardly therebetween, snapping the ears from the stalks in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art. The cars of corn drop over the flange 29 into the conveyor trough 30 and are moved rearwardly therein by the paddles 38 on the conveyor chain 31, which discharge the ears over the rear end portion of the conveyor trough to the husking rolls 96, 91. The details of the husking mechanism are not described herein, but reference may be had to our aforementioned patent for further description thereof.

While the foregoing description of one of the gatherer units refers particularly to the left-hand unit, it is to be understood that the gatherer on the right side of the implement is of similar construction but is a right-hand instead of a lefthand unit.

We claim:

1. In a corn picker, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in 76'- generally parallel spaced apart planes and hav-' mo em:

ihg'fianges turned on the edges-thereof to provide rigidity, a sheet metal bracing wall disposed substantially perpendicular to'said sheets and-rigidly interconnecting the same, a sheet metal trough extending longitudinally beneath said lower sheetand rigidly fixed thereto, servingas a tubular supporting beam therefor, a shaft extending substantially perpendicular to said sheets and having" a pair of supporting bearings attached to said sheets, respectively, a sprocket mounted on said: shaft, and a conveyor chain engaging said sprocket.

2. In a corn picker, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes in overlapping arrangement, a sheet metal bracing wall curved around one end of one of said sheets and extending substantially perpendicular therefrom to the other of said sheets and rigidly attached to both of said sheets, a brace disposed at one end of the otherof said sheets-rigidly interconnecting the two sheets, and a generally vertical stalki guidinggsheet fastened to, each of said upper and lower sheets and curving laterally over said upper sheet.

3.'In a corn picker, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes and having flanges turned on the edges thereof to provide rigidity, a sheet metal bracing wall disposed substantially perpendicular to said sheets and rigidly interconnecting the same, a sheet metal trough extending longitudinally beneath said lower sheet and having outwardly turned longitudinally extending flanges secured to the bottom of the latter, said trough serving as a tubular beam for supporting said gatherer, a shaft extending substantially perpendicular to said sheets and having a pair of supporting bearings attached to said sheets, respectively, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, a conveyor chain engaging said sprocket, and conveyor paddles attached to said chain in spaced relation and slidable over said lower sheet for moving harvested material thereon.

In a corn picker, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes in overlapping arrangement, a shaft extending substantially perpendicular to both sheets between the overlapping portions thereof, a sprocket mounted on said shaft above said lower sheet, a conveyor chain trained around said sprocket and having spaced paddles attached thereto for moving ears of corn upon said lower sheet, a sheet metal wall attached to the overlapped end of said lower sheet and extending upwardly therefrom and fixed to said upper sheet, and a sheet metal trough extending longitudinally beneath said lower sheet and rigidly fixed thereto, said trough being supported at its rear end and tapered forwardly to serve as a supporting beam for said gatherer.

5. In a corn picker, a gatherer comprising a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined upper and lower sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes in overlapping arrangement, said upper sheet extending forwardly from the front end of said lower plate, a shaft extending substantially perpendicular to said lower sheet between the overlapping portions of said sheets, a sprocket mounted on said shaft above said lower sheet, a conveyor chain trained around said sprocket and extending rearwardly above said lower sheet and having spaced paddles attached thereto for moving ears of corn rearwardly upon said lower sheet, and a sheet metal; bracing-wall? attached totheforwardx end: of said lower sheet: and extending upwardly" therefromv and fixed to said upper-sheet, said wall extending transverselyacross the lower'sheet" ahead of said sprocket to catch any ears that tend. to slide forwardlyofi the end of the sheet.

6. In a corn picker-having a pair of snapping rolls, a gatherer positioned alongside said rolls and comprising. in combination a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined upper and lower sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes in overlapping arrangement,. said upper conveyor chain trained around said'sprocket and? extending'rearwardly above saidlower sheet and having spaced paddlesattached thereto for mov-- i'ng ears ofcorn rearwardly upon said lower sheet,

within which said conveyor moves.

7. In a cornpicker having a pair of snapping:

rolls, a gatherer positioned alongside said rolls and comprising in combination a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined upper and lower sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes in overlapping arrangement, said upper sheet extending forwardly from the front end of said lower plate, a shaft extending substantially perpendicular to said lower sheet between the overlapping portions of said sheets, a sprocket mounted on said shaft above said lower sheet, a conveyor chain trained around said sprocket and extending rearwardly above said lower sheet and having spaced paddles attached thereto for moving ears of corn rearwardly upon said lower sheet, said lower sheet having an upwardly turned flange alongside one of said rolls to form a conveyor trough adapted to receive ears therefrom and within which said conveyor moves, and a sheet metal bracing wall attached to the forward end of said lower sheet and extending upwardly therefrom and fixed to said upper sheet, said wall extending transversely across the lower sheet ahead of said sprocket to catch any ears that tend to slide forwardly off the end of the sheet.

8. In a corn picker or the like, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel planes and having flanges along the edges thereof to provide rigidity, bracing means interconnecting said sheets, and a sheet metal trough serving as a tubular beam, disposed longitudinally under said lower sheet and rigidly fixed thereto.

9. In a corn picker or the like, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel planes and having flanges along the edges thereof to provide rigidity, a sheet metal bracing wall curved around one end of one of said sheets and extending substantially perpendicular therefrom to the other of said sheets and rigidly attached to both of said sheets, a brace disposed at one end of the other of said sheets rigidly interconnecting the two sheets, and a sheet metal trough serving as a longitudinally disposed tubular beam under said lower sheet and rigidly fixed thereto.

10. In a corn picker, a gatherer comprising a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined upper and lower sheets disposed in generally parallel spaced apart planes in overlapping arrangement, said upper sheet extending forwardly from the front end of said lower plate, a shaft extending substantially perpendicular to said lower sheet between the overlapping portions of said sheets, a sprocket mounted on said shaft above said lower sheet, a conveyor chain trained around said sprocket and extending rearwardly above said lower sheet and having spaced paddles attached thereto for moving ears of corn rearwardly upon said lower sheet, a sheet metal bracing wall attached to the forward end of said lower sheet and extending upwardly therefrom and fixed to said upper sheet, said wall extending transversely across the lower sheet ahead of said sprocket to catch any ears that tend to slide forwardly off the end of the sheet, and a sheet metal trough serving as a longitudinally disposed tubular beam under said lower sheet and rigidly fixed thereto.

' 11. In a corn picker or the like, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel planes and having flanges along the edges thereof to provide rigidity, bracing means interconnecting said sheets, and a sheet metal trough extending longitudinally beneath said lower sheet and having outwardly turned flanges secured to the bottom of the latter, said trough serving as a tubular beam for supporting said gatherer.

12. In a corn picker or the like, a gatherer comprising a pair of upper and lower metal sheets disposed in generally parallel planes and having flanges along the edges thereof to provide rigidity, bracing means interconnecting said sheets, and a sheet metal trough extending longitudinally beneath said lower sheet and having outwardly turned flanges secured to the bottom of the latter, said trough being supported at its rear end and tapering forwardly to provide a tubular beam for supporting said gatherer.

NORMAN F. ANDREWS. RUSSELL L. DORT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 749,298 Johnston Jan. 12, 1904 1,046,335 Rust Dec. 3, 1912 1,838,569 Powell Dec. 29, 1931 2,004,711 Thieman June 11, 1935 2,160,486 Oehler et al May 30, 1939 

